To Isaac N. Morris1Jump to section
Dear Sir: Washington, August 26, 1863.
Your note, asking what you were to understand, was received yesterday. Monday morning, I sent the papers to the Secretary of
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Your note, asking what you were to understand, was received yesterday. Monday morning, I sent the papers to the Secretary of
the Interior, with an indorsement that my impression of the law was not changed, and that I desired him to take up the case and do his duty according to his view of the law. Yesterday I said the same thing to him verbally.
Now, my understanding is that the law has not assigned me, specifically, any duty in the case, but has assigned it to the Secretary of the Interior. It may be my general duty to direct him to act; which I have performed. When he shall have acted, if his action is not satisfactory, there may, or may not, be an appeal to me. It is a point I have not examined; but if then it be shown that the law gives such appeal, I shall not hesitate to entertain it when presented. Yours truly A LINCOLN
[1] ALS, owned by Edward C. Stone, Boston, Massachusetts. See Lincoln's memorandum and the letters to Morris and to Usher, August 24, supra. Morris acknowledged receipt of Lincoln's note of August 26 on the same day: ``Your letter of this date has just been placed in my hands by your private Secretary. It is all I expected you now to say---full, complete and just in its spirit and sentiments. In behalf of Illinois I return you her greatful thanks for it.'' (DLC-RTL).